rural art museum's aluminum lattice facade by team_bldg shimmers above chinese village

Four staggered volumes shape Quartet-Songzhuang Z Museum

The Quartet – Songzhuang Z Museum, designed by TEAM_BLDG, repurposes a 1990s concrete house into China‘s first contemporary rural art museum dedicated to weaving. Positioned in the mountain village of Songzhuang, Zhejiang, within the landscape’s traditional rammed-earth homes, the museum’s design embraces the contrast with its surroundings while resonating with the rural village’s spirit. The building is composed of four vertically staggered volumes, creating a dynamic composition that serves as a ‘quartet’ of forms.

The design draws inspiration from traditional textile weaving, using red-and-white aluminum lattices to form a delicate facade that shifts in hue throughout the day. The aluminum square tubes, arranged to simulate the warp and weft of fabric, allow for a changing visual effect that shifts from translucent pink to ghostly white depending on the weather and time of day. This approach transforms the building’s mass into something lighter and more ephemeral, adding depth and texture to the structure.

Z museum is nestled in a 600-year-old ancient village | all images by Jonathan Leijonhufvud

TEAM_BLDG’s design draws from traditional Chinese weaving

Internally, the museum emphasizes clarity and connection between interior and exterior spaces. A ‘light well’ cuts through the building, providing natural light and warmth while connecting the three levels visually and physically. The architectural team at TEAM_BLDG organizes the layout of the exhibition halls around this central shaft, offering views of other visitors and of the surrounding landscape. Reconfigured window openings frame the views of the village, enabling interaction between the interior artwork and the external environment. The museum’s rooftop terrace offers panoramic views of Songzhuang, further blending the museum with the natural landscape.

The interior also features a custom ‘LOOM’ furniture series for the museum’s café and shop, inspired by traditional weaving forms. Constructed with red woven straps and square steel tube frames, these pieces echo the exterior latticework, continuing the theme of weaving throughout the interior design. The overall design balances contemporary architectural interventions with the preservation of the building’s original character, creating a space that resonates with both modernity and tradition.

the colors of each facade shift and transform with the changing light

four staggered volumes form the core of the museum’s composition

foliage of peach blossoms interacts with the weaved facade

the rooftop embodies the ‘Four Waters Returning to the Courtyard’ essence from traditional architecture

Z museum aims to weave itself into the village environment

Z Museum seen through the age-old alleyways

aluminum lattices mimic textile weaving with red and white square-cut tubes

each grille on the facade has a white front, while the other three sides are earth red

the external skin’s grilles filter mountain views

the staircase on the third floor serves as a semi-outdoor space

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terrace bar overlooks the village

weaving between the light and shadow and the grilles

framed village views

red corridor connects new and old

dimness of the prelude hall contrasts the brightness of the atrium

the well is connected to the dormer window of the old house

a leisure space set up next to the entrance

progressive relationship from darkness to brightness

atrium displays large-scale suspended art installations

the café and shop feature custom-made LOOM furniture series

skylights bring natural light to every floor

natural light in the atrium changes with time

each space has a window facing the atrium

views of nature

VI system with the concept of weaving

after sunset, Z museum returns to its white color

the landmark can be seen from every corner of the village

at night, the museum becomes a hazy lighthouse

soft light filters from the interior

project info:

name: The Quartet – Songzhuang Z Museum
architect: TEAM_BLDG | @team__bldg

location: Songyang, Zhejiang, China

area: 472 sqm

lead architects: Xiao Lei, Deng Caiyi, Shen Ruijie

operator: Mountain Creations

curatorial team: CSC Communis 

structure: GongHe Architecture Design Group Co.,Ltd.

custom furniture, lighting design: TEAM_BLDG

VI design: TEAM_BLDG

photographer: Jonathan Leijonhufvud | @jonathan_leijonhufvud

photography assistant: Wai Wai

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom